Truck crash blocks highway for hours

The contents of a Midwest Express semi-truck trailer lie scattered across the eastbound lane of U.S. Route 50 after an accident that temporarily shut down both west and east lanes early Friday evening. Upon initial investigations, the driver appeared to lose control at the turn according to 1st Lt. Eric Wilde of the Jefferson City Police Department.
Katie Alaimo/News Tribune

Originally published January 3, 2014 at 8:27 p.m., updated January 3, 2014 at 9:35 p.m.

Traffic was rerouted for over four hours on Friday after a tractor-trailer crashed in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 50 at U.S. 54 in Jefferson City.

The contents of a semi-truck trailer lie scattered across eastbound U.S. 50 under U.S. 54 on Friday.

Police report the driver of an eastbound semi truck lost control, hitting the concrete median as he was changing lanes on the curve coming into the bottom level of the tri-level interchange. The trailer was ripped open as it hit the overpass pillars. Its cargo, pallets of paper, spilled onto the roadway.

The 23-year-old driver, John Larson of Trumball, Neb., wasn't hurt. No other vehicles were involved in the wreck, police said.

The eastbound lanes of U.S. 50 were completely blocked after the 3:17 p.m. crash. Police diverted eastbound traffic up the off ramp to the middle level of the interchange and then back down to 50 where it intersects with Missouri Boulevard.

Westbound lanes also had to be closed at times during the investigation and cleanup, which was finished by 7:45 p.m.